Biocide compositions comprising branched alkyl polyglycosides

ABSTRACT

Agrochemical compositions comprising (a) one or more branched alkyl polyglycosides, and (b) one or more biocides are disclosed. The compositions display improved solubility in water, and reduced foam generation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC §119 ofEuropean Patent Application number 09014883.4, filed on Dec. 1, 2009,which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the area of agrochemicals and refers tobiocide compositions comprising branched non-ionic surfactants and theiruse as adjuvants for biocides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The crop protection market represents a total value of around

22 billion/year. Most biocides are formulated with adjuvants (also knownas potentiators) to maximise their efficacy by fulfilling severalfunctions. An adjuvant must provide good wetting of the leaf surface,facilitate the foliar penetration of the biocide under a wide range ofclimatic conditions, and enhance, or at least not inhibit, translocationof the biocide, in particular a herbicide, into the plant. In addition,it must not produce phytotoxic effects when used on specific resistantcrops.

The use of ethoxylated vegetable oils as additives for biocide and plantprotection formulations represents a well known state of the art. One ofthe first references describing ethoxylated triglycerides for thispurpose has been a laid-open publication from the German DemocraticRepublic DD 268147 A1. In this context, reference is also made tointernational patent application WO 98/009518 A1 (Cognis) disclosing anagricultural composition comprising a liquid carrier and an emulsifiermixture consisting of alkyl polyglucosides and fatty acids. From the twoGerman applications DE 100 00 320 A1 and DE 100 18 159 A1 (both assignedto Cognis) compositions are known comprising certain contact herbicidesand ethoxylated fatty alcohols or fatty acids. European patent EP0804241 B1 (SEPPIC) refers to ethoxylated fatty acid esters andtriglycerides and their use as auto-emulsifiable systems for makingagricultural compositions. Finally, WO 05/008778 A1 (Cognis) disclosesthe use of linear alkyl polyglycosides as adjuvants and emulsifiers forbiocides.

Although various types of biocides and also a huge number of additives,such as adjuvants, emulsifiers, solubilizers and the like are availablein the market, there is constant need to develop new auxiliary agentsthat increase the speed of penetration of actives into the leaves of theplants to be protected, and also improve the ability of the actives tofight different micro-organisms, especially various kinds of fungi. Ithas been the object of the present invention to provide compounds andcompositions which meet these needs of the market.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to biocide compositions, comprising:

-   -   (a) one or more branched alkyl polyglycosides,    -   (b) one or more biocides,    -   (c) optionally, one or more oil components and/or co-solvents,        and/or    -   (d) optionally, one or more emulsifiers.

Surprisingly it has been observed that branched alkyl polyglycosides,especially when compared with similar surfactants showing a linearstructure, reduce the melting point of the compositions, facilitatesolution in water and reduce foam generation, what makes it easier andmore efficient to apply them. As a result, the species exhibit anover-all improved adjuvant performance. Adding oil components asco-solvents, especially those having an ester structure to thecompositions leads to emulsifiable concentrate formulations showingincreased emulsion behaviour and stability, in particular with respectto opacity and layering.

Branched Alkyl Polyglycosides

The alkyl oligoglycosides which can be used in the compositionsaccording to the invention as component (a) may be derived from aldosesor ketoses containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose.Accordingly, the preferred alkyl oligoglycosides are alkyloligoglucosides. These materials are also known generically as “alkylpolyglycosides” (APG). The alkyl oligoglycosides according to theinvention correspond to formula (I):R¹O[G]_(p)  (I)wherein R¹ is an alkyl radical having from 16 to 30 carbon atoms, G is asugar moiety having 5 or 6 carbon atoms and p is a number from 1 to 10.The index p in formula (I) indicates the degree of oligomerization(degree of polymerization, DP), i.e. the distribution of mono- andoligoglycosides, and is a number of 1 to 10. Whereas p in an individualcompound must always be an integer and, most preferably, assumes a valueof 1 to 6, the value p for a specific alkyl oligoglycoside product is ananalytically determined calculated quantity which is normally afractional number. Alkyl oligoglycosides having an average degree ofoligomerization p of 1.1 to 3.0 are preferably used. Alkyloligoglycosides having a degree of oligomerization below 1.7 and, moreparticularly, between 1.2 and 1.4 are preferred from an applicationpoint of view. The alkyl or alkenyl radical R¹ may be derived fromsecondary alcohols, for example, isostearic alcohol or the monomerfraction of the dimerization of oleic alcohol. Especially suitable areGuerbet alcohols, such as 2-hexyldecanol or 2-octyldodecanol which areobtained by Guerbet condensation of linear primary alcohols. Also usefulare the so-called oxo alcohols such as Neodol® 67, which is a mixture ofC₁₆ and C₁₇ alcohols. Alkyl polyglucosides based on Guerbet alcohols,and having a DP of 1 to 3 are preferred.Biocides

A biocide (component b) in the context of the present invention is aplant protection agent, more particular a chemical substance capable ofkilling different forms of living organisms used in fields such asmedicine, agriculture, forestry, and mosquito control. Also countedunder the group of biocides are so-called plant growth regulators.Usually, biocides are divided into two sub-groups:

-   -   pesticides, which includes fungicides, herbicides, insecticides,        algicides, moluscicides, miticides and rodenticides, (cf., The        Pesticide Handbook, 14th edition, BCPC, 2006, incorporated        herein by reference) and    -   antimicrobials, which includes germicides, antibiotics,        antibacterials, antivirals, antifungals, antiprotozoals and        antiparasitics.

Biocides can also be added to other materials (typically liquids) toprotect the material from biological infestation and growth. Forexample, certain types of quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) can beadded to pool water or industrial water systems to act as an algicide,protecting the water from infestation and growth of algae.

Pesticides

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a pesticide as“any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing,destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest”. A pesticide may be achemical substance or biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria)used against pests including insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks,birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms) and microbes that competewith humans for food, destroy property, spread disease or are anuisance. In the following examples, pesticides suitable for theagrochemical compositions according to the present invention are given:

Fungicides. A fungicide is one of three main methods of pest control—thechemical control of fungi in this case. Fungicides are chemicalcompounds used to prevent the spread of fungi in gardens and crops.Fungicides are also used to fight fungal infections. Fungicides caneither be contact or systemic. A contact fungicide kills fungi whensprayed on its surface. A systemic fungicide has to be absorbed by thefungus before the fungus dies. Examples of suitable fungicides,according to the present invention, encompass the following chemicalclasses and corresponding examples, without limitation:

-   -   Aminopyrimidines such as bupirimate,    -   Anilinopyrimidines such as cyprodinil, mepanipyrim,        pyrimethanil,    -   Heteroaromatics such as hymexazol,    -   Heteroaromatic hydrocarbons such as etridiazole,    -   Chlorophenyls/Nitroanilines such as chloroneb, dicloran,        quintozene, tecnazene, tolclofosmethyl,    -   Benzamide fungicides such as zoxamide,    -   Benzenesulfonamides such as flusulfamide,    -   Benzimidazoles such as acibenzolar, benomyl, benzothiazole,        carbendazim, fuberidazole, metrafenone, probenazole,        thiabendazole, triazoxide, and benzimidazole precursor        fungicides,    -   Carbamates such as propamocarb, diethofencarb,    -   Carboxamides such as boscalid, diclocymet, ethaboxam,        flutolanil, penthiopyrad, thifluzamide    -   Chloronitriles such chlorothalonil,    -   Cinnamic acid amides such as dimethomorph, flumorph,    -   Cyanoacetamide oximes such as cymoxanil,    -   Cyclopropancarboxamides such as carpropamid,    -   Dicarboximides such as iprodione, octhilinone, procymidone,        vinclozolin    -   Dimethyldithiocarbamates such ferbam, metam, thiram, ziram,    -   Dinitroanilines such as fluazinam,    -   Dithiocarbamates such as mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram,        nabam, propineb, zineb,    -   Dithiolanes such as isoprothiolane,    -   Glucopyranosyl antibiotics such as streptomycin, validamycin,    -   Guanidines such as dodine, guazatine, iminoctadine,    -   Hexopyranosyl antibiotics such as kasugamycin,    -   Hydroxyanilides such as fenhexamid,    -   Imidazoles such as imazalil, oxpoconazole, pefurazoate,        prochloraz, triflumizole,    -   Imidazolinones such as fenamidone,    -   Inorganics such as Bordeaux mixture, copper hydroxide, copper        naphthenate, copper oleate, copper oxychloride, copper(II)        sulfate, copper sulfate, copper(II) acetate, copper(II)        carbonate, cuprous oxide, sulfur,    -   Isobenzofuranones such as phthalide,    -   Mandelamides such as mandipropamide,    -   Morpholines such as dodemorph, fenpropimorph, tridemorph,        fenpropidin, piperalin, spiroxamine, aldimorph    -   Organotins such as fentin,    -   Oxazolidinones such as oxadixyl,    -   Phenylamides such as benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, furalaxyl,        metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, ofurace,    -   Phenylpyrazoles such as fipronil,    -   Phenylpyrroles such as fludioxonil,    -   Phenylureas such as pencycuron,    -   Phosphonates such fosetyl,    -   Phthalamic acids such as tecloftalam,    -   Phthalimides such as captafol, captan, folpet,    -   piperazines such as triforine,    -   Propionamides such as fenoxanil,    -   Pyridines such as pyrifenox,    -   Pyrimidines such as fenarimol, nuarimol,    -   Pyrroloquinolinones such as pyroquilon,    -   Qils such as cyazofamid,    -   Quinazolinones such as proquinazid,    -   Quinolines such as quinoxyfen,    -   Quinones such as dithianon,    -   Sulfamides such as tolylfluanid, dichlofluanid,    -   Strobilurines such as azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, famoxadone,        fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, picoxystrobin,        pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin, orysastrobin,    -   Thiocarbamates such as methasulfocarb,    -   Thiophanates such as thiophanate-methyl,    -   Thiophencarboxamides such silthiofam,    -   Triazole fungicides such as azaconazole, bitertanol,        bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole,        epoxiconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole,        flutriafol, fluotrimazole, hexaconazole, imibenconazole,        ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, penconazole,        propiconazole, prothioconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole,        tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole,        quinconazole    -   Triazolobenzothidazoles such as tricyclazole,    -   Valinamide carbamates such as iprovalicarb, benthiavalicarb    -   Fluopicolide    -   Pentachlorophenol        and their mixtures.

Herbicides. An herbicide is a pesticide used to kill unwanted plants.Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desiredcrop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with thegrowth of the weed and are often based on plant hormones. Herbicidesused to clear waste ground are nonselective and kill all plant materialwith which they come into contact. Herbicides are widely used inagriculture and in landscape turf management. They are applied in totalvegetation control (TVC) programs for maintenance of highways andrailroads. Smaller quantities are used in forestry, pasture systems, andmanagement of areas set aside as wildlife habitat. In general, activeingredients can be used representing various chemical classes, includingthe following examples, without limitation:

-   -   Anilides such as propanil    -   Aryloxycarboxylic acids e.g. MCPA-thioethyl    -   Aryloxyphenoxypropionates e.g. clodinafop-propargyl,        cyhalofop-butyl, diclofops, fluazifops, haloxyfops, quizalofops,    -   Chloroacetamides e.g. acetolochlor, alachlor, butachlor,        dimethenamid, metolachlor, propachlor    -   Cyclohexanedione oximes e.g. clethodim, sethoxydim, tralkoxydim,    -   Benzamides such as isoxaben    -   Benzimidazoles such as dicamba, ethofumesate    -   Dinitroanilines e.g. trifluralin, pendimethalin,    -   Diphenyl ethers e.g. aclonifen, oxyfluorfen,    -   The glycine derivative glyphosate, a systemic nonselective (it        kills any type of plant) herbicide used in no-till burndown and        for weed control in crops that are genetically modified to        resist its effects,    -   Hydroxybenzonitriles e.g. bromoxynil,    -   Imidazolinones e.g. fenamidone, imazapic, imazamox, imazapic,        imazapyr, imazaquin,    -   Isoxazolidinones e.g. clomazone    -   Paraquat as bypyridylium,    -   Phenyl carbamates e.g. desmedipham, phenmedipham,    -   Phenylpyrazoles e.g. pyraflufen-ethyl    -   Phenylpyrazolines e.g. pinoxaden,    -   Pyridinecarboxylic acids or synthetic auxins e.g. picloram,        clopyralid, and triclopyr,    -   Pyrimidinyloxybenzoics e.g. bispyrtbac-sodium    -   Sulfonyureas e.g. amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron,        bensulfuron-methyl, chlorsulfuron, flazasulfuron, foramsulfuron,        flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron,        sulfosulfuron, tribenuron-methyl, trifloxysurlfuron-sodium,        triflusulfuron, tritosulfuron,    -   Triazolopyrimidines e.g. penoxsulam, metosulam, florasulam,    -   Triketones e.g. mesotriones, sulcotrione,    -   Ureas e.g. diuron, linuron,    -   Phenoxycarboxylic acids such as 2,4-D, MCPA, MCPB, mecoprops,    -   Triazines such as atrazine, simazine, terbuthylazine,        and their mixtures.

Insecticides. An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects in alldevelopmental forms. They include ovicides and larvicides used againstthe eggs and larvae of insects. Insecticides are used in agriculture,medicine, industry and the household. In the following, suitablechemical classes and examples of insecticides are mentioned, withoutlimitation:

-   -   Abamectin, emamectin,    -   Anthranilic diamides such as rynaxypyr    -   Synthetic auxins Duch as avermectin,    -   Amidines such as amitraz,    -   Anthranilic diamide Duch as rynaxypyr,    -   Carbamates such as aldicarb, carbofuran, carbaryl, methomyl,        2-(1-methylpropyl)phenyl methylcarbamate,    -   Chlorinated insecticides such as, for example, Camphechlor, DDT,        Hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane,        Methoxychlor, Pentachlorophenol, TDE, Aldrin, Chlordane,        Chlordecone, Dieldrin, Endosulfan, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex,    -   Juvenile hormone mimics such as pyriproxyfen,    -   Neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiacloprid,        thiamethoxam,    -   Organophosphorus compounds such as acephate, azinphos-methyl,        bensulide, chlorethoxyfos, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyriphos-methyl,        diazinon, dichlorvos (DDVP), dicrotophos, dimethoate,        disulfoton, dthoprop, fenamiphos, fenitrothion, fenthion,        fosthiazate, malathion, methamidophos, methidathion,        methyl-parathion, mevinphos, naled, omethoate,        oxydemeton-methyl, parathion, phorate, phosalone, phosmet,        phostebupirim, pirimiphos-methyl, profenofos, terbufos,        tetrachlorvinphos, tribufos, trichlorfon,    -   Oxadiazines such as indoxacarb,    -   Plant toxin derived compounds such as derris (rotenone),        pyrethrum, neem (azadirachtin), nicotine, caffeine,    -   Pheromones such cuellure, methyl eugenol,    -   Pyrethroids such as, for example, allethrin, bifenthrin,        deltamethrin, permethrin, resmethrin, sumithrin, tetramethrin,        tralomethrin, transfluthrin,    -   Selective feeding blockers such as flonicamid, pymetrozine,    -   Spinosyns e.g. spinosad        and their mixtures.

Plant Growth Regulators. Plant hormones (also known as phytohormones)are chemicals that regulate plant growth. Plant hormones are signalmolecules produced within the plant, and occur in extremely lowconcentrations. Hormones regulate cellular processes in targeted cellslocally and when moved to other locations, in other locations of theplant. Plants, unlike animals, lack glands that produce and secretehormones. Plant hormones shape the plant, affecting seed growth, time offlowering, the sex of flowers, senescence of leaves and fruits. Theyaffect which tissues grow upward and which grow downward, leaf formationand stem growth, fruit development and ripening, plant longevity andeven plant death. Hormones are vital to plant growth, and lacking them,plants would be mostly a mass of undifferentiated cells. Suitable plantgrowth regulators include the following, without limitation:

-   -   Aviglycine,    -   Cyanamide,    -   Gibberellins such gibberellic acid,    -   Quaternary ammoniums such as chlormequat chloride, mepiquat        chloride,    -   Ethylene generators such ethephone,

Rodenticides. Rodenticides are a category of pest control chemicalsintended to kill rodents. Rodents are difficult to kill with poisonsbecause their feeding habits reflect their place as scavengers. Theywould eat a small bit of something and wait, and if they do not getsick, they would continue eating. An effective rodenticide must betasteless and odorless in lethal concentrations, and have a delayedeffect. In the following, examples for suitable rodenticides are given,without limitation:

-   -   Anticoagulants are defined as chronic (death occurs after 1-2        weeks post ingestion of the lethal dose, rarely sooner),        single-dose (second generation) or multiple dose (first        generation) cumulative rodenticides. Fatal internal bleeding is        caused by lethal dose of anticoagulants such as brodifacoum,        coumatetralyl or warfarin. These substances in effective doses        are antivitamins K, blocking the enzymes        K₁-2,3-epoxide-reductase (this enzyme is preferentially blocked        by 4-hydroxycoumarin/4-hydroxythiacoumarin derivatives) and        K₁-quinone-reductase (this enzyme is preferentially blocked by        indandione derivatives), depriving the organism of its source of        active vitamin K₁. This leads to a disruption of the vitamin K        cycle, resulting in an inability of production of essential        blood-clotting factors (mainly coagulation factors II        (prothrombin), VII (proconvertin), IX (Christmas factor) and X        (Stuart factor)). In addition to this specific metabolic        disruption, toxic doses of        4-hydroxycoumarin/4-hydroxythiacoumarin and indandione        anticoagulants are causing damage to tiny blood vessels        (capillaries), increasing their permeability, causing diffuse        internal bleedings (haemorrhagias). These effects are gradual;        they develop in the course of days and are not accompanied by        any nociceptive perceptions, such as pain or agony. In the final        phase of intoxication the exhausted rodent collapses in        hypovolemic circulatory shock or severe anemia and dies calmly.        Rodenticidal anticoagulants are either first generation agents        (4-hydroxycoumarin type: warfarin, coumatetralyl; indandione        type: pindone, diphacinone, chlorophacinone), generally        requiring higher concentrations (usually between 0.005 and        0.1%), consecutive intake over days in order to accumulate the        lethal dose, poor active or inactive after single feeding and        less toxic than second generation agents, which are derivatives        of 4-hydroxycoumarin (difenacoum, brodifacoum, bromadiolone and        flocoumafen) or 4-hydroxy-1-benzothiin-2-one        (4-hydroxy-1-thiacoumarin, sometimes incorrectly referred to as        4-hydroxy-1-thiocoumarin, for reason see heterocyclic        compounds), namely difethialone. Second generation agents are        far more toxic than first generation agents, they are generally        applied in lower concentrations in baits (usually in the order        of 0.001-0.005%), and are lethal after single ingestion of bait        and are effective also against strains of rodents that have        become resistant against first generation anticoagulants; thus        the second generation anticoagulants are sometimes referred to        as “superwarfarins”. Sometimes, anticoagulant rodenticides are        potentiated by an antibiotic, most commonly by sulfaquinoxaline.        The aim of this association (e.g. warfarin        0.05%+sulfaquinoxaline 0.02%, or difenacoum        0.005%+sulfaquinoxaline 0.02% etc.) is that the        antibiotic/bacteriostatic agent suppresses intestinal/gut        symbiotic microflora that represents a source of vitamin K. Thus        the symbiotic bacteria are killed or their metabolism is        impaired and the production of vitamin K by them is diminuted,        an effect which logically contributes to the action of        anticoagulants. Antibiotic agents other than sulfaquinoxaline        may be used, for example co-trimoxazole, tetracycline, neomycin        or metronidazole. A further synergism used in rodenticidal baits        is that of an association of an anticoagulant with a compound        with vitamin D-activity, i.e. cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol        (see below). A typical formula used is, e.g., warfarin        0.025-0.05%+cholecalciferol 0.01%. In some countries there are        even fixed three-component rodenticides, i.e.        anticoagulant+antibiotic+vitamin D, e.g. difenacoum        0.005%+sulfaquinoxaline 0.02%+cholecalciferol 0.01%.        Associations of a second-generation anticoagulant with an        antibiotic and/or vitamin D are considered to be effective even        against the most resistant strains of rodents, though some        second generation anticoagulants (namely brodifacoum and        difethialone), in bait concentrations of 0.0025-0.005% are so        toxic that no known resistant strain of rodents exists and even        rodents resistant against any other derivatives are reliably        exterminated by application of these most toxic anticoagulants.    -   Vitamin K₁ has been suggested and successfully used as an        antidote for pets or humans, which/who were either accidentally        or intentionally (poison assaults on pets, suicidal attempts)        exposed to anticoagulant poisons. In addition, since some of        these poisons act by inhibiting liver functions and in        progressed stages of poisoning, several blood-clotting factors        as well as the whole volume of circulating blood lacks, a blood        transfusion (optionally with the clotting factors present) can        save a person's life who inadvertently takes them, which is an        advantage over some older poisons.    -   Metal phosphides have been used as a means of killing rodents        and are considered single-dose fast acting rodenticides (death        occurs commonly within 1-3 days after single bait ingestion). A        bait consisting of food and a phosphide (usually zinc phosphide)        is left where the rodents can eat it. The acid in the digestive        system of the rodent reacts with the phosphide to generate the        toxic phosphine gas. This method of vermin control has possible        use in places where rodents are resistant to some of the        anticoagulants, particularly for control of house and field        mice; zinc phosphide baits are also cheaper than most        second-generation anticoagulants, so that sometimes, in cases of        large infestation by rodents, their population is initially        reduced by copious amounts of zinc phosphide bait applied, and        the rest of the population that survived the initial fast-acting        poison is then eradicated by prolonged feeding on anticoagulant        bait. Inversely, the individual rodents that survived        anticoagulant bait poisoning (rest population) can be eradicated        by pre-baiting them with nontoxic bait for a week or two (this        is important to overcome bait shyness, and to get rodents used        to feeding in specific areas by offering specific food,        especially when eradicating rats) and subsequently applying        poisoned bait of the same sort as used for pre-baiting until all        consumption of the bait ceases (usually within 2-4 days). These        methods of alternating rodenticides with different modes of        action provides a factual or an almost 100% eradication of the        rodent population in the area if the acceptance/palatability of        bait is good (i.e., rodents readily feed on it).    -   Phosphides are rather fast acting rat poisons, resulting in that        the rats are dying usually in open areas instead of the affected        buildings. Typical examples are aluminum phosphide (fumigant        only), calcium phosphide (fumigant only), magnesium phosphide        (fumigant only) and zinc phosphide (in baits). Zinc phosphide is        typically added to rodent baits in amounts of around 0.75-2%.        The baits have a strong, pungent garlic-like odor characteristic        for phosphine liberated by hydrolysis. The odor attracts (or, at        least, does not repulse) rodents, but has a repulsive effect on        other mammals; birds, however (notably wild turkeys), are not        sensitive to the smell and feed on the bait thus becoming        collateral damage.    -   Hypercalcemia. Calciferols (vitamins D), cholecalciferol        (vitamin D₃) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D₂) are used as        rodenticides, which are toxic to rodents for the same reason        that they are beneficial to mammals: they are affecting calcium        and phosphate homeostasis in the body. Vitamins D are essential        in minute quantities (few IUs per kilogram body weight daily,        which is only a fraction of a milligram), and like most fat        soluble vitamins they are toxic in larger doses as they readily        result in the so-called hypervitaminosis, which is, simply said,        poisoning by the vitamin. If the poisoning is severe enough        (that is, if the dose of the toxicant is high enough), it        eventually leads to death. In rodents consuming the rodenticidal        bait it causes hypercalcemia by raising the calcium level,        mainly by increasing calcium absorption from food, mobilising        bone-matrix-fixed calcium into ionised form (mainly        monohydrogencarbonate calcium cation, partially bound to plasma        proteins, [CaHCO₃]⁺), which circulates dissolved in the blood        plasma, and after ingestion of a lethal dose the free calcium        levels are raised sufficiently so that blood vessels, kidneys,        the stomach wall and lungs are mineralised/calcificated        (formation of calcificates, crystals of calcium salts/complexes        in the tissues thus damaging them), leading further to heart        problems (myocard is sensitive to variations of free calcium        levels that are affecting both myocardial contractibility and        excitation propagation between atrias and ventriculas) and        bleeding (due to capillary damage) and possibly kidney failure.        It is considered to be single-dose, or cumulative (depending on        concentration used; the common 0.075% bait concentration is        lethal to most rodents after a single intake of larger portions        of the bait), sub-chronic (death occurring usually within days        to one week after ingestion of the bait). Applied concentrations        are 0.075% cholecalciferol and 0.1% ergocalciferol when used        alone. There is an important feature of calciferols toxicology        which is that they are synergistic with anticoagulant toxicants.        This means that mixtures of anticoagulants and calciferols in        the same bait are more toxic than the sum of toxicities of the        anticoagulant and the calciferol in the bait so that a massive        hypercalcemic effect can be achieved by a substantially lower        calciferol content in the bait and vice-versa. More pronounced        anticoagulant/hemorrhagic effects are observed if calciferol is        present. This synergism is mostly used in baits low in        calciferol because effective concentrations of calciferols are        more expensive than effective concentrations of most        anticoagulants. Historically, the very first application of a        calciferol in rodenticidal bait was, in fact, the Sorex product        SOREXA® D (with a different formula than the SOREXA® D product        currently available), which back in the early 1970's, contained        warfarin 0.025%+ergocalciferol 0.1%. Today, SOREXA® CD contains        a 0.0025% difenacoum+0.075% cholecalciferol combination.        Numerous other brand products containing either calciferols        0.075-0.1% (e.g. QUINTOX®, containing 0.075% cholecalciferol)        alone, or a combination of calciferol 0.01-0.075% with an        anticoagulant are marketed.

Miticides, moluscicides and nematicides. Miticides are pesticides thatkill mites. Antibiotic miticides, carbamate miticides, formamidinemiticides, mite growth regulators, organochlorine, permethrin andorganophosphate miticides all belong to this category. Molluscicides arepesticides used to control mollusks, such as moths, slugs and snails.These substances include metaldehyde, methiocarb and aluminium sulfate.A nematicide is a type of chemical pesticide used to kill parasiticnematodes (a phylum of worm). A nematicide is obtained from a neemtree's seed cake; which is the residue of neem seeds after oilextraction. The neem tree is known by several names in the world but wasfirst cultivated in India in ancient times.

Antimicrobials

In the following examples, antimicrobials suitable for agrochemicalcompositions according to the present invention are given. Bactericidaldisinfectants mostly used are those applying

-   -   active chlorine (i.e., hypochlorites, chloramines,        dichloroisocyanurate and trichloroisocyanurate, wet chlorine,        chlorine dioxide, etc.),    -   active oxygen (peroxides such as peracetic acid, potassium        persulfate, sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate and urea        perhydrate),    -   iodine (iodpovidone (povidone-iodine, Betadine), Lugol's        solution, iodine tincture, iodinated nonionic surfactants),    -   concentrated alcohols (mainly ethanol, 1-propanol, called also        n-propanol and 2-propanol, called isopropanol and mixtures        thereof; further, 2-phenoxyethanol and 1- and 2-phenoxypropanols        are used),    -   phenolic substances (such as phenol (also called “carbolic        acid”), cresols (called “Lysole” in combination with liquid        potassium soaps), halogenated (chlorinated, brominated) phenols,        such as hexachlorophene, triclosan, trichlorophenol,        tribromophenol, pentachlorophenol, Dibromol and salts thereof),    -   cationic surfactants such as some quaternary ammonium cations        (such as benzalkonium chloride, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide        or chloride, didecyldimethylammonium chloride, cetylpyridinium        chloride, benzethonium chloride) and others, non-quarternary        compounds such as chlorhexidine, glucoprotamine, octenidine        dihydrochloride, etc.),    -   strong oxidizers such as ozone and permanganate solutions;    -   heavy metals and their salts such as colloidal silver, silver        nitrate, mercury chloride, phenylmercury salts, copper sulfate,        copper oxide-chloride etc. Heavy metals and their salts are the        most toxic and environmentally hazardous bactericides and,        therefore, their use is strongly suppressed or forbidden;        further, also    -   properly concentrated strong acids (phosphoric, nitric,        sulfuric, amidosulfuric, toluenesulfonic acids) and    -   alcalis (sodium, potassium, calcium hydroxides) between pH<1        or >13, particularly below elevated temperatures (above 60° C.)        kill bacteria.

As antiseptics (i.e., germicide agents that can be used on human oranimal body, skin, mucoses, wounds and the like), few of the abovementioned disinfectants can be used under proper conditions (mainlyconcentration, pH, temperature and toxicity toward man/animal). Amongthem, important are

-   -   Some properly diluted chlorine preparations (e.g. Daquin's        solution, 0.5% sodium or potassium hypochlorite solution,        pH-adjusted to pH 7-8, or 0.5-1% solution of sodium        benzenesulfochloramide (chloramine B)), some    -   iodine preparations such as iodopovidone in various galenics        (ointments, solutions, wound plasters), in the past also Lugol's        solution,    -   peroxides as urea perhydrate solutions and pH-buffered 0.1-0.25%        peracetic acid solutions,    -   alcohols with or without antiseptic additives, used mainly for        skin antisepsis,    -   weak organic acids such as sorbic acid, benzoic acid, lactic        acid and salicylic acid    -   some phenolic compounds such as hexachlorophene, triclosan and        Dibromol, and    -   cation-active compounds such as 0.05-0.5% benzalkonium, 0.5-4%        chlorhexidine, 0.1-2% octenidine solutions.

Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria; bacteriostatic antibiotics onlyslow down their growth or reproduction. Penicillin is a bactericide, asare cephalosporins. Aminoglycosidic antibiotics can act in both abactericidic manner (by disrupting cell wall precursor leading to lysis)or bacteriostatic manner (by connecting to 30s ribosomal subunit andreducing translation fidelity leading to inaccurate protein synthesis).Other bactericidal antibiotics according to the present inventioninclude the fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans, vancomycin, monobactams,co-trimoxazole, and metronidazole Preferred actives are those withsystemic or partially systemic mode of action such as for exampleazoxystrobin.

Overall preferred are biocides selected from the group consisting ofazoles, oxyfluorfen, propanil, chlorpyrifos, bifenthrin, novaluron,phenmedipham, deltamethrin, acetochlore, lambda-cyhalothrin, glyphosateand its salts, glufosinate and its salts, and mixtures of these species.

Oil Components

In a number of cases it is advantageous to add oil components (optionalcomponent c) to the biocide compositions in order to support theemulsification power of the products. Suitable products comprise Guerbetalcohols based on fatty alcohols having 6 to 18, preferably 8 to 10,carbon atoms, esters of linear C₆-C₂₂-fatty acids with linear orbranched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols or esters of branched C₆-C₁₃-carboxylicacids with linear or branched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols, such as, forexample, myristyl myristate, myristyl palmitate, myristyl stearate,myristyl isostearate, myristyl oleate, myristyl behenate, myristylerucate, cetyl myristate, cetyl palmitate, cetyl stearate, cetylisostearate, cetyl oleate, cetyl behenate, cetyl erucate, stearylmyristate, stearyl palmitate, stearyl stearate, stearyl isostearate,stearyl oleate, stearyl behenate, stearyl erucate, isostearyl myristate,isostearyl palmitate, isostearyl stearate, isostearyl isostearate,isostearyl oleate, isostearyl behenate, isostearyl oleate, oleylmyristate, oleyl palmitate, oleyl stearate, oleyl isostearate, oleyloleate, oleyl behenate, oleyl erucate, behenyl myristate, behenylpalmitate, behenyl stearate, behenyl isostearate, behenyl oleate,behenyl behenate, behenyl erucate, erucyl myristate, erucyl palmitate,erucyl stearate, erucyl isostearate, erucyl oleate, erucyl behenate anderucyl erucate. Also suitable are esters of linear C₆-C₂₂-fatty acidswith branched alcohols, in particular 2-ethylhexanol, esters ofC₁₈-C₃₈-alkylhydroxy carboxylic acids with linear or branchedC₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols, in particular Dioctyl Malate, esters of linearand/or branched fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols (such as, forexample, propylene glycol, dimerdiol or trimertriol) and/or Guerbetalcohols, triglycerides based on C₆-C₁₀-fatty acids, liquidmono-/di-/triglyceride mixtures based on C₆-C₁₈-fatty acids, esters ofC₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols and/or Guerbet alcohols with aromatic carboxylicacids, in particular benzoic acid, esters of C₂-C₁₂-dicarboxylic acidswith linear or branched alcohols having 1 to 22 carbon atoms (CETIOL® B)or polyols having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups,vegetable oils, branched primary alcohols, substituted cyclohexanes,linear and branched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohol carbonates, such as, forexample, Dicaprylyl Carbonate (CETIOL® CC), Guerbet carbonates, based onfatty alcohols having 6 to 18, preferably 8 to 10, carbon atoms, estersof benzoic acid with linear and/or branched C₆-C₂₂-alcohols (e.g.CETIOL® AB), linear or branched, symmetrical or asymmetrical dialkylethers having 6 to 22 carbon atoms per alkyl group, such as, forexample, dicaprylyl ether (CETIOL® OE), ring-opening products ofepoxidized fatty acid esters with polyols, silicone oils(cyclomethicones, silicone methicone grades, etc.), aliphatic ornaphthenic hydrocarbons, such as, for example, squalane, squalene ordialkylcyclohexanes, and/or mineral oils. The preferred oilcomponents/co-solvents show an ester structure preferably adipates(CETIOL® B, AGNIQUE DiME 6), methyl esters of vegetable oils (AGNIQUE®ME 18RD-F, AGNIQUE® ME 12C-F), alkyl esters (AGNIQUE® Ae 3-2EH), allproducts available in the market from Cognis GmbH.

Emulsifiers

In a number of cases it is advantageous to add emulsifiers (optionalcomponent d) to the biocide compositions in order to support thestability of the products. A first preferred group of emulsifiersencompasses non-ionic surfactants such as, for example:

-   -   products of the addition of 2 to 30 mol ethylene oxide and/or 0        to 5 mol propylene oxide onto linear C₈₋₂₂ fatty alcohols, onto        C₁₂₋₂₂ fatty acids and onto alkyl phenols containing 8 to 15        carbon atoms in the alkyl group;    -   C_(12/18) fatty acid monoesters and diesters of addition        products of 1 to 30 mol ethylene oxide onto glycerol;    -   glycerol mono- and diesters and sorbitan mono- and diesters of        saturated and unsaturated fatty acids containing 6 to 22 carbon        atoms and ethylene oxide addition products thereof; addition        products of 15 to 60 mol ethylene oxide onto castor oil and/or        hydrogenated castor oil;    -   polyol esters and, in particular, polyglycerol esters such as,        for example, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, polyglycerol        poly-12-hydroxystearate or polyglycerol dimerate isostearate.        Mixtures of compounds from several of these classes are also        suitable;    -   addition products of 2 to 15 mol ethylene oxide onto castor oil        and/or hydrogenated castor oil;    -   partial esters based on linear, branched, unsaturated or        saturated C_(6/22) fatty acids, ricinoleic acid and        12-hydroxystearic acid and glycerol, polyglycerol,        pentaerythritol, -dipentaerythritol, sugar alcohols (for example        sorbitol), alkyl glucosides (for example methyl glucoside, butyl        glucoside, lauryl glucoside) and polyglucosides (for example        cellulose);    -   alkoxylatation products of saccharose esters    -   mono-, di and trialkyl phosphates and mono-, di- and/or        tri-PEG-alkyl phosphates and salts thereof;    -   wool wax alcohols;    -   polysiloxane/polyalkyl polyether copolymers and corresponding        derivatives;    -   mixed esters of pentaerythritol, fatty acids, citric acid and        fatty alcohol and/or mixed esters of C₆₋₂₂ fatty acids, methyl        glucose and polyols, preferably glycerol or polyglycerol,    -   polyalkylene glycols and    -   glycerol carbonate.

The addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide ontofatty alcohols, fatty acids, alkylphenols, glycerol mono- and diestersand sorbitan mono- and diesters of fatty acids or onto castor oil areknown commercially available products. They are homologue mixtures ofwhich the average degree of alkoxylation corresponds to the ratiobetween the quantities of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide andsubstrate with which the addition reaction is carried out. C_(12/18)fatty acid monoesters and diesters of addition products of ethyleneoxide onto glycerol are known as lipid layer enhancers for cosmeticformulations. The preferred emulsifiers are described in more detail asfollows:

Partial Glycerides

Typical examples of suitable partial glycerides are hydroxystearic acidmonoglyceride, hydroxystearic acid diglyceride, isostearic acidmonoglyceride, isostearic acid diglyceride, oleic acid monoglyceride,oleic acid diglyceride, ricinoleic acid monoglyceride, ricinoleic aciddiglyceride, linoleic acid monoglyceride, linoleic acid diglyceride,linolenic acid monoglyceride, linolenic acid diglyceride, erucic acidmonoglyceride, erucic acid diglyceride, tartaric acid monoglyceride,tartaric acid diglyceride, citric acid monoglyceride, citric aciddiglyceride, malic acid monoglyceride, malic acid diglyceride andtechnical mixtures thereof which may still contain small quantities oftriglyceride from the production process. Addition products of 1 to 30,and preferably 5 to 10, mol ethylene oxide onto the partial glyceridesmentioned are also suitable.

Sorbitan Esters

Suitable sorbitan esters are sorbitan monoisostearate, sorbitansesquiisostearate, sorbitan diisostearate, sorbitan triisostearate,sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitantrioleate, sorbitan monoerucate, sorbitan sesquierucate, sorbitandierucate, sorbitan trierucate, sorbitan monoricinoleate, sorbitansesquiricinoleate, sorbitan diricinoleate, sorbitan triricinoleate,sorbitan monohydroxystearate, sorbitan sesquihydroxystearate, sorbitandihydroxystearate, sorbitan trihydroxystearate, sorbitan monotartrate,sorbitan sesquitartrate, sorbitan ditartrate, sorbitan tritartrate,sorbitan monocitrate, sorbitan sesquicitrate, sorbitan dicitrate,sorbitan tricitrate, sorbitan monomaleate, sorbitan sesquimaleate,sorbitan dimaleate, sorbitan trimaleate and technical mixtures thereof.Addition products of 1 to 30, and preferably 5 to 10, mol ethylene oxideonto the sorbitan esters mentioned are also suitable.

Polyglycerol Esters

Typical examples of suitable polyglycerol esters are Polyglyceryl-2Dipolyhydroxystearate (DEHYMULS® PGPH), Polyglycerin-3-Diisostearate(LAMEFORM® TGI), Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate (ISOLAN® GI 34),Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate(ISOLAN® PDI), Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate (TEGO CARE® 450),Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax (CERA BELLINA®), Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate(Polyglycerol Caprate T2010/90), Polyglyceryl-3 Cetyl Ether (CHIMEXANE®NL), Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate (CREMOPHOR® GS 32) and PolyglycerylPolyricinoleate (ADMUL® WOL 1403), Polyglyceryl Dimerate Isostearate andmixtures thereof. Examples of other suitable polyolesters are the mono-,di- and triesters of trimethylol propane or pentaerythritol with lauricacid, cocofatty acid, tallow fatty acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid,oleic acid, behenic acid and the like, optionally reacted with 1 to 30mol ethylene oxide.

Alkoxylated Vegetable Oils

Suitable emulsifiers are castor oil, rape seed oil, soy been oilethoxylated with 3 to 80 moles ethylene oxide (AGNIQUE® CSO 35, AGNIQUE®SBO 10, AGNIQUE® SBO 60))

Alkoxylated Copolymers

Typical copolymers are ethoxylated and propoxylated block and/or randompolymers of C₂-C₂₂ linear or branched alcohols.

Miscellaneous Emulsifiers

Typical anionic emulsifiers are aliphatic C₁₂₋₂₂ fatty acids such aspalmitic acid, stearic acid or behenic acid, for example, and C₁₂₋₂₂dicarboxylic acids such as azelaic acid or sebacic acid, for example.Other suitable emulsifiers are zwitterionic surfactants. Zwitterionicsurfactants are surface-active compounds which contain at least onequaternary ammonium group and at least one carboxylate and one sulfonategroup in the molecule. Particularly suitable zwitterionic surfactantsare the so-called betaines such as the N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl ammoniumglycinates, for example cocoalkyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate,N-acylaminopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for examplecocoacylaminopropyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate, and2-alkyl-3-carboxymethyl-3-hydroxyethyl imidazolines containing 8 to 18carbon atoms in the alkyl or acyl group and cocoacylaminoethylhydroxyethyl carboxymethyl glycinate. The fatty acid amide derivativeknown under the CTFA name of Cocamidopropyl Betaine is particularlypreferred. Ampholytic surfactants are also suitable emulsifiers.Ampholytic surfactants are surface-active compounds which, in additionto a C_(8/18) alkyl or acyl group, contain at least one free amino groupand at least one —COOH— or —SO₃H— group in the molecule and which arecapable of forming inner salts. Examples of suitable ampholyticsurfactants are N-alkyl glycines, N-alkyl propionic acids,N-alkylaminobutyric acids, N-alkyliminodipropionic acids,N-hydroxyethyl-N-alkylamidopropyl glycines, N-alkyl taurines, N-alkylsarcosines, 2-alkylaminopropionic acids and alkylaminoacetic acidscontaining around 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Particularlypreferred ampholytic surfactants are N-cocoalkylaminopropionate,cocoacylaminoethyl aminopropionate and C_(12/18) acyl sarcosine.

Biocide Compositions

Depending on the nature of the biocide the products may show thefollowing compositions:

-   (a) about 0.1% b.w. to about 99% b.w., preferably about 15% b.w. to    about 70% b.w., and most preferably about 20% b.w. to about 45%    b.w., branched alkyl polyglycosides,-   (b) about 1% b.w. to about 99.1% b.w., preferably about 5% b.w. to    about 75% b.w., and most preferably about 15% b.w. to about 40%    b.w., biocides,-   (c) 0 to about 50, preferably about 5 to about 30 and more    preferably about 10 to about 25% b.w. oil components/co-solvents and-   (d) 0% b.w. to about 15% b.w., and preferably about 5 to about 10%    b.w. emulsifiers,    provided that the numbers—optionally with water and/or polyols—add    up to 100% b.w. The compositions are pesticide concentrates to be    diluted with water to give aqueous formulations for end-users    comprising about 0.5 to about 5%, preferably about 0.5 to about 1%    of the active ingredient represented by the concentrate.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

A final embodiment of the present invention is related to the use ofbranched alkyl polyglycosides, in particular alkyl polyglucosides basedon isostearyl alcohol, Guerbet alcohols and or oxo alcohols as adjuvantsand/or emulsifiers for biocides.

EXAMPLES Examples 1 to 4, Comparative Examples C1 and C2

The efficiency of the adjuvants according to the present invention isdemonstrated via the control of Asian Soybean Rust. Field trials wereconducted in Brazil. Two standard biocide compositions from the marketwere applied to soybean crops: OPERA® (BASF) contains 5% w/wepoxiconazole and 13.3% w/w pyraclostrobin, the former is a preventiveand curative fungicide, the latter a protectant, curative, andtranslaminar fungicide. FOLICUR® (Bayer CropScience) containstebuconazole, a fungicide with protective, curative, and eradicantproperties. The two compositions were applied at full recommended rateand at a 50% level. These experiments are compared to similar treatmentof the plants adding in both cases adjuvant mixtures at a concentrationof 150 ml/ha. The results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Soybean Crop Yield influenced by Asian Soybean Rust-relative tocontrol (=100) Examples OPERA ® FOLICUR ® Control 100 100 Fungicidesused at full recommended rate — Without additive 142 130 12-Octyldodecyl polyglucoside (DP 1.7) 161 141 2 Isostearyl polyglucoside(DP 1.5) 153 135 C1 Cetearyl polyglucoside (DP 1.5) 150 127 Fungicidesat 50% of the full recommended rate — Without additive 129 151 32-Octyldodecyl polyglucoside (DP 1.7) 137 161 4 Isostearyl polyglucoside(DP 1.5) 137 156 C2 Cetearyl polyglucoside (DP 1.5) 129 149

As clearly indicated by the examples and comparative examples, adding ofthe branched alkyl polyglucosides compared to the linear APG increasesthe efficiency of the fungicides significantly.

Examples 5 and 6, Comparative Examples C3 and C4

A separate study was undertaken to compare the performance of theinvented composition compared with an industry standard, moreparticularly a crop oil concentrate (COC), on the uptake of nicosulfuronon barnyard grass and green foxtail. Nicosulfuron as ACCENT® WDG 75 wasused at 0.031% w/v (46.7 g active ingredient/150 l/ha). Radio-labellednicosulfuron (50 mCi/mmol) was added to freshly prepared treatmentsolution 0.5 h prior to use. The ¹⁴C nicosulfuron comprised 7% by mass.Spray solutions with nicosulfuron alone i.e. without adjuvant, wereformulated in 50% acetone. All additives were used at the sameconcentration. The uptake using COC (Example C3) was set to 100%,therefore the data in Table 2, below, reflects the reduction inconcentration of the other adjuvants in order to achieve the same levelof uptake for COC. In other words, one can reduce the amount of adjuvantby 75-80% in order to achieve the same effects compared to the use ofCOC. The results are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Nicosulfuron treatments Example Plus adjuvant Adjuvant rate (%v/v) Control No adjuvant 0 5 2-Octyldodecyl polyglucoside (DP 1.7) 0.246 Isostearyl polyglucoside (DP 1.5) 0.22 C3 Crop oil concentrate (COC)*1.0 C4 Cetearyl polyglucoside (DP 1.5) 0.19 *The crop oil concentrate(COC) contains 83% oil and 17% emulsifier

What is claimed is:
 1. A biocide composition consisting essentially of:(a) one or more branched alkyl polyglycosides, (b) one or more chemicalfungicides wherein said branched alkyl polyglycosides conform to formula(I)R¹O[G]_(p)  (I) wherein R¹ is a branched alkyl group having 18 or 20carbon atoms, G is a glucose moiety, and p is a number from 1 to 10, (c)optionally, one or more oil components and/or co-solvents, and (d)optionally, one or more emulsifiers.
 2. The composition of claim 1,wherein said branched alkyl polyglycosides are derived from the group ofbranched alcohols consisting of isostearic alcohol and Guerbet.
 3. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein said fungicides are selected from thegroup consisting of strobilurines and triazoles.
 4. The composition ofclaim 3, wherein the fungicide is epoxiconazole, pyraclostrobin ortebuconazole.
 5. The composition of claim 1, which includes one or moreoil components and/or one or more co-solvents.
 6. The composition ofclaim 1, which includes one or more emulsifiers.
 7. The composition ofclaim 1 consisting essentially of: (a) 0.1% to 99% by weight, based onthe composition, of one or more branched alkyl polyglycosides, (b) 1% to99.1% by weight, based on the composition, of one or more chemicalfungicides, (c) 0% to 50% by weight, based on the composition, of one ormore oil components and/or one or more co-solvents, and (d) 0% to 15% byweight, based on the composition, of one or more emulsifiers.
 8. Thecomposition of claim 7, wherein the fungicide content is 5% to 50% byweight, based on the composition.
 9. A method of preparing a biocidecomposition, the method consisting essentially of the steps of: (a)providing a chemical fungicide, and (b) adding one or more branchedalkyl polyglycosides as adjuvants and/or emulsifiers to form the biocidecomposition;  wherein said branched alkyl polyglycosides conform toformula (I)R¹O[G]_(p)  (I)  wherein R¹ is a branched alkyl group having 18 or 20carbon atoms, G is a glucose moiety, and p is a number from 1 to 10, (c)optionally, adding one or more oil components and/or co-solvents, and(d) optionally, adding one or more emulsifiers.